especially in smaller and isolated communities<\/a>.<\/p>\nThese communities often face societal resistance rooted in misinformation, a lack of technical knowledge, and concerns over upfront costs. Limited access to transparent information has further slowed the acceptance of sustainable technologies.<\/p>\n
To address this, SERENE advocates for community-focused training programmes that can clarify the benefits of renewable technologies and promote local buy-in.<\/p>\n
Outdated infrastructure hinders technological integration<\/h3>\n
The SERENE cluster report highlights that Europe\u2019s ageing energy infrastructure remains a substantial obstacle to renewable integration.<\/p>\n
Outdated systems, coupled with data scarcity, make efficient energy management challenging, particularly in remote areas.<\/p>\n
Regulatory obstacles compound these issues by limiting collaboration with Distribution System Operators (DSOs). SERENE\u2019s recommendations include aligning EU and local regulations to streamline the transition to renewable energy.<\/p>\n
Supporting small businesses to drive innovation<\/h3>\n
In addition to societal and technological challenges, the policy brief emphasises the industrial hurdles in the renewable energy sector.<\/p>\n
These include a growing skills gap, a lack of standardised technologies, and the dominance of large corporations that can create mistrust in local communities.<\/p>\n
To overcome this, SERENE suggests that small businesses and start-ups receive more funding to become competitive players in the energy market.<\/p>\n
By fostering trust and competitiveness, the report argues that small companies can drive more localised, scalable solutions.<\/p>\n
Key recommendations for accelerating renewable energy technologies<\/h3>\n
The SERENE policy brief offers eight major recommendations aimed at overcoming these barriers:<\/p>\n
\n- Recommendation 1 – Training Tools and Workshops:<\/strong> Provide structured training for communities to raise awareness and acceptance of renewable energy solutions.<\/li>\n
- Recommendation 2 – Align EU and Local Regulations:<\/strong> Streamline policies between EU and local governments for easier adoption of energy projects.<\/li>\n
- Recommendation 3 – Scalable Energy Solutions:<\/strong> Develop plug and-play technologies for simpler adoption by citizens and communities.<\/li>\n
- Recommendation 4 – Funding for Start-ups:<\/strong> Allocate EU and national funds to support small companies and start-ups in renewable energy.<\/li>\n
- Recommendation 5 – Simplify Procedures:<\/strong> Speed up administrative processes for energy projects, especially for smaller communities.<\/li>\n
- Recommendation 6 – Interoperability and Standardisation:<\/strong> Create EU-wide standards for renewable technologies to ensure compatibility.<\/li>\n
- Recommendation 7 – Promote Energy Sharing:<\/strong> Implement flexible legal frameworks to enable communities to share surplus energy.<\/li>\n
- Recommendation 8 – Combat Misinformation:<\/strong> Launch awareness campaigns to educate citizens on the benefits and debunk myths about renewable energy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
SUSTENANCE final results<\/h3>\n
In addition to the policy brief, the SUSTENANCE project, has also released its final results video, which can be found below:<\/p>\n